Kearney leads in fundraising for House race

Monday

Oct 8, 2018 at 1:00 PMOct 8, 2018 at 7:10 PM

Republican Ed O'Connell, Independent Nathaniel Powell and Democrat Patrick Kearney are running for state representative in the 4th Plymouth District.

MARSHFIELD — Democrat Patrick Kearney is riding a massive fundraising lead as he campaigns for the former seat of state rep. James Cantwell, having raised seven and 14 times as much money as his Republican and independent opponents, respectively

Kearney, who is running against Republican Ed O'Connell and Independent Nathaniel Powell in the 4th Plymouth district, also out-raised his primary opponents and spent during the primary nearly double what his general election opponents raised combined. The three are vying for a seat that represents all of Marshfield and most of Scituate.

"We've been very fortunate in meeting so many people. I've knocked on over 6,000 doors and that grassroots effort is resonating with people," Kearney said. "Our campaign video on social media also has 68,000 views, so it's not only the campaign that is gaining traction, it's the message of having political courage and new, energetic leadership."

Kearney's fundraising started in March of this year and by Aug. 17, the filing deadline to report expenses, had raised $70,829. Of that, $49,401, or nearly 70 percent, was donated from people who reported addresses outside of the 4th Plymouth District.

Powell, the Independent candidate, says the money coming from outside the district is worrisome, and pointed to a fundraiser being held in Boston tonight as an example.

"When you're looking for money outside the district, what does that say?" Powell said.

Kearney said his campaign represents something people from all over want more of: young, energetic representation.

"The message of our campaign is resonating not only with residents in Marshfield and Scituate, but across party lines and district lines," he said. "With modern ways to reach out, my campaign resonates with voters throughout the commonwealth and across the country, really."

Kearney has more than a dozen supporters who have each donated $1,000, including South Shore Orthopedics Doctor Michael Ayers, John and Nicole Cronin of the Boston-based Cronin Group restaurant developers and Newton residents Diane and James O'Donovan of the Revel Real Estate Group. Scituate Selectman Karen Canfield donated $500.

During the primary, Kearney spent $33,808.

O'Connell, who ran against Craig Valdez in the Republican primary, raised $11,681 between June 2018 and the filing deadline. Of that, $6,975, or 59 percent, was from out-of-district donors. He spent $6,260 during the primary.

"Money is a big part of a campaign but money doesn’t vote," O'Connell said. "That's one part of the campaign, but the other part is getting out there, shaking hands with voters, listening to their concerns, discussing issues and getting the word out. We are working hard and confident in our efforts.

O'Connell's biggest donors were Steven O'Connell, a portfolio risk manager at Wells Fargo in North Carolina, and Rich Flynn of Hanson, a construction consultant at Affordable Roofing. They each donated $1,000.

Powell, a Marshfield resident, raised $4,810 from individual donors, almost all of which came from inside the district. Of the total, $1,590 came from out-of-district donors and just 5 percent came from out of state.

"If you look at a lot of my donations, they're all in the $10, $15, $100 range," Powell said. "I don't have any $1,000 donations, which shows that I'm representing the working class. They don't have a lot to give, but they're trying to support me as much as they can."

Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.

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